Let’s face it, folks – the medieval era had zero Wi-Fi and not a latte in sight, but still, we can’t help but be smitten with its chainmail-clad charm. Thanks to the magic of movies, we can time travel from our couches to an age where chivalry wasn’t dead, it was just taking a nap. So, prepare for a cinematic crusade through history without the risk of the plague or pesky serfdom.
The Intense Family Drama of Christmas 1183
Forget your modern soap operas; The Lion in Winter makes them look like a walk in the park. Set during Christmas in 1183, this film is a family drama that could give any reality TV show a run for its money. Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole serve up performances so sharp, you’d think they were forged by medieval blacksmiths. 1968 Hollywood would run circles around Brie Larson,
and honestly, they’re not wrong. 
A Historically Dubious Cry for Freedom
Oh, Braveheart, you might have won an Oscar, but historians are still giving you the side-eye. This film took creative liberties with history that are so grand, they make William Wallace’s legend look like a bedtime story. Despite its factual faux pas, Mel Gibson’s cry for freedom became iconic – just don’t quote it in your history essay. 
The Anachronistic Jousting Rock Concert
A Knight’s Tale is less about historical accuracy and more about rocking out to Queen with Heath Ledger in shining armor. It’s an underdog story with a jousting twist that made us all cheer for the medieval bad boy who just wanted to change his stars. And while some critics might have been on the fence like a reluctant squire, audiences threw their gold coins at it like Ledger was the king of the tournament. 
Existential Dread and The Game of Life and Death
If you ever fancied playing chess with Death during the Black Plague, then Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal might just be your cup of mead. This film is as existential as it gets, with each character embodying a different human response to mortality – talk about heavy stuff. Max von Sydow’s knight is grappling with faith while Death, ever so stylishly, waits for his move. It’s dark, it’s deep, and it’s undeniably medieval. 
The Blacksmith Turned Crusader
Kingdom of Heaven throws Orlando Bloom into the dusty sandals of a blacksmith who moonlights as Jerusalem’s defender during the Crusades. It’s an epic that tries to balance grandiose battles with historical nuance – sort of like trying to fit a camel through the eye of a needle. The film has its share of critics, especially when it comes to its portrayal of religious conflict, but hey, at least it looks good on screen. 
A Holy Hand Grenade of Absurd Humor
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is like the unicorn of medieval comedies – rare and ridiculously funny. With no studio interference (because there was no studio), this film was a knight in shining armor funded by rock royalty itself – shout out to Pink Floyd! It turned King Arthur’s quest into something so absurdly hilarious that you’d think it was written by Merlin on a bender. There was no studio interference because there was no studio; none of them would give us any money,
said Terry Gilliam, probably while laughing all the way to Camelot. 
Murder Mystery Meets Medieval Monks
In The Name of the Rose, Sean Connery doesn’t need a license to kill; he’s got a library full of deadly secrets instead. This film mixes murder mystery with monastic life faster than you can say ‘Hail Mary’. It’s dark, it’s dreary, and it’s dripping with medieval intrigue – not exactly your typical Sunday school lesson. 
A Fairy Tale That Doesn’t Age
The Princess Bride, oh how you’ve charmed us through the ages with your wit sharper than Inigo Montoya’s sword. This film is like that one noble steed that never gets old – always ready for another adventure. It’s got romance, rodents of unusual size (R.O.U.S.), and quotable lines that have transcended generations: ‘Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya…’ You know the rest. 
The Dark Side of Camelot
Last but not least, we have Excalibur, where director John Boorman decided that Arthurian legend needed more sex, violence, and mystical flair than a Vegas magic show. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it’s got enough style to make Merlin go ‘Whoa!’. This isn’t your sunny Sunday school Camelot; this is Camelot after hours – swords out and spells flying everywhere. 
So there you have it: nine medieval movies that let you travel back in time without worrying about dysentery or feudal taxes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to adjust my chainmail and polish my goblet before returning to our blessed century where Wi-Fi flows freely and coffee shops abound.
Follow Us
